Hwy 79 Surfacing project south of Hermosa to open

HERMOSA -- 12 miles of concrete surfacing on highway 79 south of Hermosa is slated to open this week.  South Dakota Department of Transportation officials say surfacing of the newly graded south bounds lanes from Hermosa to Fairburn will be open to traffic November 4^th.

The newly constructed southbound lanes will be open to two lane traffic November 4^th.  The northbound lanes will then be striped and open for two lane traffic by November 6^th.

Motorist should expect shoulder work to continue through November 6^th, as the final sign changes are made converting this 12 mile section of Hwy 79 from a two lane to a four lane highway. 

Upper Plains Contracting, Inc. of Aberdeen, South Dakota is the prime contractor on the project. The cost of this construction totaled $5.25 million dollars. 

Completion of the surfacing section to Buffalo Gap is scheduled to begin in the spring and be completed prior to July 1^st, 2005.

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